I actually really enjoyed this vintage of les Rayas because it's more ready to drink. I was also quite surprised by the lighter color of the wine (lighter extraction, or ripeness?) vs. the 2009 and 2010.
This was the most open nose and ready to drink vintage. Of course with probably less aging potential.
Beautiful wine with still numerous years ahead.
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Medium-bodied, lighter, elegant, fresh, vibrant-styled wine with a focus on its core of sweet, earthy, spicy kirsch, and finesse-edged finish. This is close to fully developed, there is no reason to wait to open a bottle if you own any. Drink from 2024-2031.
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Decanted 18 hours before drinking. Reynaud strawberries, garrigue, pine, floral honey. Gorgeous nose. Palate is a touch hot but with a little chill this is beautiful.
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A late night grab off the list, just a brief decant before we all dug in. Needs WAY more air, and time! Jammed with crushed rocks and minerals...the pretty red berry, kirsch, rhubarb fruits had a hard time showing all its glory. Still signs of greatness...that translucent, sexy red color...floral and spicy nose of licorice, dried cherries/oranges, flowers, white pepper...super lifting blood orange acidity...little thin with all that crushed rock, vintage...and just a tad bit of heat which went in and out as white pepper and alc. You can tell how classy and singular this wine is...just needs more time or big air to really shine. A real treat when you get to try one none-the-less. +pts
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Internationale du Gout - Vertical series #1: Rayas dinner with Morrocan fusion food; 1/19/2024-1/20/2024 (Singapore): Matched against the '06 Rayas - this is a no-contest. Probably the flight showing the biggest gap. Not damning for the '11 as the '06 is a show-stopper. The style here however is truly Rayas including the captivating nose. This is on the younger side and should mature into an outstanding drink. For now there is discernible kirsch/cherry liquor betraying higher ripeness.
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[This flight included the 2011 Rayas Fonsalette, 2011 Rayas Pignan, and the 2011 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape] Unlike the 2010 CdP, the nose here was brighter and sweeter with ripe dark red fruit on the nose, strawberry and plum reduction, touch of balsamic. This seemed bigger and heftier on the palate, with a higher concentration of fruit. Palate of strawberry and rhubarb jam, spice cabinet of cloves and cinnamon, leather and a touch of cracked pepper. The fruit has just started to raisin, but comes off predominantly primary still. This still needs more time to develop further as it came off slightly weighty when compared to the ‘10. The potential is absolutely there, but my palate ended up favoring the '10 tonight. 96+
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Rayas / Pignan / Fonsalette / Tours Tasting (Scottsdale, Arizona USA): The star of today's epic tasting, graceful from the first sip. Bottle had been opened about 7 hours prior to serving, and was utterly complete. The magnificently exotic spices and subtle fruits reminded me a bit of a great old vintage of La La's. It was a bit shocking that 2011 is totally open for business, but that's the fact. 2010 will surely eclipse this one day, but that day might not be for many years. 2011 is the vintage to enjoy now and over the next several years. Wonderful, special stuff that gets my highest recommendation.
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Not sure I understood this wine at all. Brooding and aromatic, but with such heat and alcohol that the wine was completely without life. Totally out of balance and lacking energy / acidity. Perhaps a function of the wine being PnP.
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Opened 24 hours prior. Explosive nose, so much density: red fruits, caramel, brushwood, pepper, bacon, mint etc. etc. Layered tastes of dried red fruits, herbs, leather, and roses. Intense and endless aftertaste. What a joy! They only downside: 15% ABV, it is for sure a heavy hitter and you kind of taste the southern France sunrays. Nevertheless, the legend is true, stunning wine.
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E Reynaud smaking: Utrolig fascinerende å ha denne og Pignan ved siden av hverandre.
Begge har den samme røde og sjarmerende luftigheten.
Der Pignan er super tiltalende, er Rayas enda dypere og hypnotiserende, og dessuten hakket mer «seriøs» i uttrykket.
Er også yngre og tettere enn Pignan. Ikke like tilgjengelig. Likevel merker man at Rayas er enda mer kompleks.
Også i munn er det et hakk eller to opp i intensitet. Svær i frukten, men uten å tynge. Tvert imot har denne en utrolig letthet klima og alkohol tatt i betraktning.
Litt mer subtil syre her.
Uansett er det slående hvor godt balanserte disse vinene er.
Mens Pignan drikker nydelig nå, vil Rayas nok ha godt av noen år til i kjeller.
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Ouvert et servi immédiatement, il est évidemment assez massif. Mais après 20 minutes, il est déjà incroyable de complexité. Beaucoup de poivre, les traditionnelles bergamotes, une texture veloutée, profonde. La longueur aromatique est saisissante. Un petit millésime pour l’appellation mais un grand millésime pour Rayas. 95++ pts
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Complex nose of bursting wild strawberries, incenses, orange peel, followed by a lifted mouthfeel, red fruited, gently persistent. A classic Rayas in the making.
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Pnp: Wonderful nose, and quite tasty, but also quite closed. Will decant 24 hrs and update thereafter.
24 hours later: This has opened up quite a bit and is now quite tasty, yet not too much. Someone said it tasted like a port, and there is some resemblance, for sure, albeit not so sweet. Not my type of wine, but very good. I upgrade from 93 to 95.
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Yum! Very impressed. Drink now. Better than all the Rhone wines I’ve had. Better than beaucastel, which I enjoy. Rich and palate cleansing at the same time.
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No notes there... Unbeliveable, nobody commented on that year before me... How strange ! One of the stunners of the night, but hey come on this is RAYAS... nose is explosive, superlative, minty, strawberries, herbs... palate is so sweet, candy like and that’s were I lose it somewhat, that strawberry and sweetness... yet it is long and sweet, smooth... Every body loves it, and it is quite normal, very good wine, but I way preferred some others...
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4/10/2024 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine: 94 Points
I actually really enjoyed this vintage of les Rayas because it's more ready to drink. I was also quite surprised by the lighter color of the wine (lighter extraction, or ripeness?) vs. the 2009 and 2010.
This was the most open nose and ready to drink vintage. Of course with probably less aging potential.
Beautiful wine with still numerous years ahead.
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3/22/2024 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Medium-bodied, lighter, elegant, fresh, vibrant-styled wine with a focus on its core of sweet, earthy, spicy kirsch, and finesse-edged finish. This is close to fully developed, there is no reason to wait to open a bottle if you own any. Drink from 2024-2031.
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3/22/2024 - Vas19 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 18 hours before drinking. Reynaud strawberries, garrigue, pine, floral honey. Gorgeous nose. Palate is a touch hot but with a little chill this is beautiful.
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2/29/2024 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 93 Points
A late night grab off the list, just a brief decant before we all dug in. Needs WAY more air, and time! Jammed with crushed rocks and minerals...the pretty red berry, kirsch, rhubarb fruits had a hard time showing all its glory. Still signs of greatness...that translucent, sexy red color...floral and spicy nose of licorice, dried cherries/oranges, flowers, white pepper...super lifting blood orange acidity...little thin with all that crushed rock, vintage...and just a tad bit of heat which went in and out as white pepper and alc. You can tell how classy and singular this wine is...just needs more time or big air to really shine. A real treat when you get to try one none-the-less. +pts
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1/20/2024 - palfr2 wrote:
Internationale du Gout - Vertical series #1: Rayas dinner with Morrocan fusion food; 1/19/2024-1/20/2024 (Singapore): Matched against the '06 Rayas - this is a no-contest. Probably the flight showing the biggest gap. Not damning for the '11 as the '06 is a show-stopper. The style here however is truly Rayas including the captivating nose. This is on the younger side and should mature into an outstanding drink. For now there is discernible kirsch/cherry liquor betraying higher ripeness.
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1/5/2024 - Michael Hung Likes this wine:
[This flight included the 2011 Rayas Fonsalette, 2011 Rayas Pignan, and the 2011 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape]
Unlike the 2010 CdP, the nose here was brighter and sweeter with ripe dark red fruit on the nose, strawberry and plum reduction, touch of balsamic. This seemed bigger and heftier on the palate, with a higher concentration of fruit. Palate of strawberry and rhubarb jam, spice cabinet of cloves and cinnamon, leather and a touch of cracked pepper. The fruit has just started to raisin, but comes off predominantly primary still. This still needs more time to develop further as it came off slightly weighty when compared to the ‘10. The potential is absolutely there, but my palate ended up favoring the '10 tonight. 96+
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1/5/2024 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Rayas / Pignan / Fonsalette / Tours Tasting (Scottsdale, Arizona USA): The star of today's epic tasting, graceful from the first sip. Bottle had been opened about 7 hours prior to serving, and was utterly complete. The magnificently exotic spices and subtle fruits reminded me a bit of a great old vintage of La La's. It was a bit shocking that 2011 is totally open for business, but that's the fact. 2010 will surely eclipse this one day, but that day might not be for many years. 2011 is the vintage to enjoy now and over the next several years. Wonderful, special stuff that gets my highest recommendation.
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11/3/2023 - nmmnori Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Not sure I understood this wine at all. Brooding and aromatic, but with such heat and alcohol that the wine was completely without life. Totally out of balance and lacking energy / acidity. Perhaps a function of the wine being PnP.
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10/20/2023 - PoyferrAgent1998 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Opened 24 hours prior. Explosive nose, so much density: red fruits, caramel, brushwood, pepper, bacon, mint etc. etc. Layered tastes of dried red fruits, herbs, leather, and roses. Intense and endless aftertaste. What a joy! They only downside: 15% ABV, it is for sure a heavy hitter and you kind of taste the southern France sunrays. Nevertheless, the legend is true, stunning wine.
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9/16/2023 - vinkeger wrote: 97 Points
E Reynaud smaking: Utrolig fascinerende å ha denne og Pignan ved siden av hverandre.
Begge har den samme røde og sjarmerende luftigheten.
Der Pignan er super tiltalende, er Rayas enda dypere og hypnotiserende, og dessuten hakket mer «seriøs» i uttrykket.
Er også yngre og tettere enn Pignan. Ikke like tilgjengelig. Likevel merker man at Rayas er enda mer kompleks.
Også i munn er det et hakk eller to opp i intensitet. Svær i frukten, men uten å tynge. Tvert imot har denne en utrolig letthet klima og alkohol tatt i betraktning.
Litt mer subtil syre her.
Uansett er det slående hvor godt balanserte disse vinene er.
Mens Pignan drikker nydelig nå, vil Rayas nok ha godt av noen år til i kjeller.
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8/24/2023 - d'Artagnan wrote: 95 Points
Au Tuck Shop.
Ouvert et servi immédiatement, il est évidemment assez massif. Mais après 20 minutes, il est déjà incroyable de complexité. Beaucoup de poivre, les traditionnelles bergamotes, une texture veloutée, profonde. La longueur aromatique est saisissante. Un petit millésime pour l’appellation mais un grand millésime pour Rayas. 95++ pts
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4/3/2023 - Mag357 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Complex nose of bursting wild strawberries, incenses, orange peel, followed by a lifted mouthfeel, red fruited, gently persistent. A classic Rayas in the making.
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2/17/2023 - Sundbyberg wrote: 95 Points
Pnp: Wonderful nose, and quite tasty, but also quite closed. Will decant 24 hrs and update thereafter.
24 hours later: This has opened up quite a bit and is now quite tasty, yet not too much. Someone said it tasted like a port, and there is some resemblance, for sure, albeit not so sweet.
Not my type of wine, but very good. I upgrade from 93 to 95.
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10/19/2020 - lelandinmichigan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Yum! Very impressed. Drink now. Better than all the Rhone wines I’ve had. Better than beaucastel, which I enjoy. Rich and palate cleansing at the same time.
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11/25/2019 - Stanrocks Likes this wine: 92 Points
No notes there... Unbeliveable, nobody commented on that year before me... How strange ! One of the stunners of the night, but hey come on this is RAYAS... nose is explosive, superlative, minty, strawberries, herbs... palate is so sweet, candy like and that’s were I lose it somewhat, that strawberry and sweetness... yet it is long and sweet, smooth... Every body loves it, and it is quite normal, very good wine, but I way preferred some others...
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